Wifi extenders: Improving your wireless range

Speed up your home network with these powerline adapters and range extenders

Devolo dLAN 1200

It's hard to use the word 'sexy' around networking gear, and even harder around powerline tech, but this is the closest we've ever come. Devolo has upgraded its previous incarnation of the powerline starter kit with several brilliant innovations such as wifi cloning via WPS, which means that the second wifi hotspot created by this kit is indistinguishable from your existing one, so your devices automatically use the strongest signal – no more picking the strongest hotspot. It's faster too, delivering data speeds of up to 1200Mbps, partly by deploying MIMO technology (Multiple Input Multiple Output) which uses all three wires of the power cable - live, neutral and earth - simultaneously.

ZyXEL PLA4201 500Mbps mini powerline adaptor

The ZyXEL PLA4201 is a perfect powerline adaptor for anyone who dislikes bulky plugs. It's small, yet packs a 500Mbps punch so it's fast enough for a typical home network. Comes with 128-bit AES encryption so it's that bit safer, while IEEE 1901 technology helps with stability when streaming content.

Belkin N600 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender

The Belkin N600 range extender fuses the look of a Transformer with data transfer speeds up to 600Mpbs, which is plenty. Once plugged into a wall socket, two external antennas boost the range of your Wi-Fi. Comes with encryption to help keep your data safe.

Devolo dLan 500 AV Wireless powerline adaptor

For putting Wi-Fi in any room, the Devolo dLan 500 AV is a worthy choice. Basically it turns a wall socket into a Wi-Fi hotspot. So no need to plug in Ethernet cables that clutter up the place. Supports 2.4 or 5GHz frequencies and comes with a three-year warranty for peace of mind.

TP-Link TL-PA251 powerline adaptor

Cheap and cheerful, but by no means incapable, these powerline adaptors from TP-Link really do the job. Just plug in them into a socket next to each other to get them paired up then put the second adaptor where you want a Ethernet connection and the other by the router. The pass-through nature means you don't have to sacrifice a socket.

D-Link Wireless AC750 Dual-Band range extender

The D-Link Wireless AC750 looks like a powerline adaptor, but it's actually a range extender you plug in to boost your home Wi-Fi signal so less dropping-out and slow performance. Up to 750Mbps is supported, making it more than adequate enough for your typical broadband connection.

Linksy RE6500 Dual-Band Wi-Fi range extender

The Linksy RE6500 is another Wi-Fi range extender that will enhance your wireless network at home. It promises a more consistent, strong signal by using something called Crossband technology. It uses wireless 802.11ac technology so it can be up to three times faster than a wireless-N extender.

Netgear EX6200 Wi-Fi Range Extender AC1200

The Netgear EX 6200 Wi-Fi range extender has two 5dbi antennas for boosting your existing wireless signal throughout your humble abode. Meanwhile the black and red paintjob makes it look a little more interesting than usual. Supports 802.11ac so up to 1,200Mbps is theoretically possible.

Netgear R7000 range extender

For the fastest Wi-Fi around, the Netgear R7000 Nighthawk is tough to beat. Three antennas and a dual core processor help do the job it sets out to do. Think nearly 2,000Mbps. Overkill, admittedly, but the R7000 provides serious range and serious speed. Not the easiest to setup, but does a fantastic job when you work it all out.

Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender for Mobile

Another cheap way to spread the Wi-Fi love throughout your home is the Netgear Wi-Fi Range Extender for Mobile. As the name suggests, it makes your existing Wi-Fi signal so less problems. It only supports 2.4GHz but this is fine for wireless devices such as an iPad or Android tablet.

TP-Link TL-WA850RE range extender

Rounding off our updated list is the TP-Link TL-WA850RE range extender, another affordable way to boost your home Wi-Fi. It uses a standard plug socket to work its magic so you can cover hard-to-reach areas of your home with up to 300Mbps wireless data rates. Looks pretty good, too.

D-Link Wireless N300 Range Extender

This wifi extender will fit snug in the palm of your hand, yet when plugged into a power-socket it will help improve your connection thanks to support of Wireless N speeds of up to 300 Mbps. A handy companion iOS and Android app helps make setting up this dinky device a breeze, even letting you do it without a computer.

Devolo dLAN 500 AV Wireless+

The Devolo dLAN 500 AV is a heavyweight in the wifi extender/powerline department. With three LAN ports and a wifi hotspot, this is a hassle-free method of getting that remote bedroom or office internetted-up. Setup is quick and easy, and with a max speed of 500Mbps (depending on the quailty of your house wiring) you'll be surfing like a pro in seconds.

Belkin N300 Wi-Fi Extender

This is from "101 gadgets you can't live without" in issue 220 of T3 Magazine. To see the full list get a digital or print copy here.

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ZyXEL 500Mbps Micro Slimline Powerline Adapter

Powerline adapters can often look bulky – sticking out too far from your mains outlet, these mini versions hope to rectify that. ZyXEL claim these can improve performance during HD streaming by up-to 60% thanks to IEEE 1901 technology. Quality of Service tech is also enabled, prioritising certain traffic and making sure you can successfully complete multiple tasks at the same time.

Linksys RE2000 Range Extender

If you often have trouble getting a strong Internet connection around your home, this range extender could be a priceless purchase. It's Compatible with b/g/n Wi-Fi devices, runs on wireless-N 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and the integrated Ethernet ports lets you add a wired device into the mix. A Quality of Service feature makes sure you can do multiple things at once, like stream a video or play some Battlefield 3 online multiplayer, without either suffering slow down.

ActionTec 500 AV Powerline Network Adapter Kit

The four ports on this adapter are great if you have multiple devices you want to share the connection of, yet don't want to deal with a load of pesky set-up. Speeds delivered are up to 500 Mbps or 100Mbps if you're on Ethernet – making it great for HD streaming and online gaming without any lag or broken frames. Everything works with your current wiring system and it's safe and secure.

TrendNet Powerline 500 AV Nano Adapter Kit with Built-In Outlet

These compact powerline adapters offer up to 80% power saving, almost no installation whatsoever and encryption keys that automatically change to ensure the utmost privacy. 500 Mbps networking over your existing electrical lines is offered, plus the included noise-filters cut out any pesky interference that can disrupt your signal.

Netgear WN3500RP Universal Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender

This range-extender can either be plugged directly into the wall socket, or through the included dock – if you want to keep everything looking a bit tidier. They work on dual-band Wi-Fi networks either 2.4 and 5.0 GHz and 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless routers, allowing you to increase your range on devices like an iPad or iPhone. You can also wirelessly stream music to your stereo, plus it's compatible with AirPlay.

Linksys Powerline HomePlug AV2

After you've plugged this white box into your mains it is easy to create a connection between two wired products, along with stretching the reaches of your current connection. Specs wise it offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps, has full Gigabit compatibility and is super easy to set-up.